By Jill Bottum

When I was a little girl 
and got badly hurt,
I would often pass out.
“You forget to breathe,”
my mother would tell me.
Pain caused me 
to swallow my breath. 

Now, emotional pain
causes lapses 
in my breath.
I must remember
to breathe
the fullness of life
back into my soul.

Let the breath of 
my spirit
soothe my pain
until I can see
the way; 
allow the healing
power of breath 
to fill me 
until I am whole
once more.